Woodlands Christian football looking to extend playoff run

KIM RICHARDSON

Published
7:00 pm CDT, Wednesday, August 30, 2006

The Warriors have qualified for the playoffs three consecutive years, under three different coaches. After leading Woodlands Christian to a 7-2 record in his first season, Jerry Bradshaw returns to give the program more stability.

That will be needed as Woodlands Christian was realigned from TAPPS 2A into 3A. The Warriors still play six-man football, but plan to move up to 11-man by the next realignment.

With another move up in mind, Bradshaw is building the program and strengthening the schedule.

"All our pre-district opponents were playoff teams last season," Bradshaw said. "Last season we played a couple of teams that did not compete very well. We didn't feel like playing them made us any better. So, we made the decision to upgrade our non-district schedule.

"We're taking a chance on playing a lot higher quality teams in that we don't know how we'll stand up against them. But, we can't help but feel like it will make us better in the long run. When we get to district play, having seen good opponents, we should be a better team."

The Warriors should find out where they stand early in the season. Woodlands Christian's first game is at Austin Hill Country. The Knights were 10-3 in 2005 and won a 92-78 playoff game/track meet with Greenville Christian last year.

Woodlands Christian's home opener will be a week later against 10-1 Brenham. Round Rock, South Shaver and Calvert will round out the pre-district schedule. Calvert is the last game before a bye-week entering district play and could give the Warriors a mid-season wake-up call. The Trojans were undefeated district champions in 2005 and return the district's Offensive and Defensive MVPs.

Bradshaw is concerned about the quality teams on Woodlands Christian's schedule, but he knows the Warriors will have to play well to win in any league.

"Our kids are ready," Bradshaw said. "We don't have a guy that's "THE" player we have to depend on. We have several good players that pull together and make a good nucleus.

"We have three or four kids back that did a good job for us last year. We have three or four that did not play last year who have decided to join the team. A couple of them are skill kids that will help us a bunch. Then, we have a couple of move-ins. That gives us a different kind of team this year."

Moving All District center Chris Brown to fullback should give the Warriors more of a power running game and enable Brown to better lead sweeps. Tailback Trevor Piccione is another returning All District performer who could benefit from Brown's position change.

Quarterback Taylor Schuetz decided to test the public school waters, but Joe Bento should make that transition a smooth one.

Woodlands Christian will field a good sized team as far as numbers are concerned. With 17 or 18 players on the roster, The Warriors will have enough players to keep two-way starters to a minimum and give players a break from the early season heat.

"In our league, if you get three or four kids hurt you're done," Bradshaw said. "We want to think we have a good chance. We'll find out. The kids are excited.

"Rosehill and Brazosport are in our district and they're always pretty good. Houston Life Christian is really good has joined the district. The other two schools are Clear Lake and Pine Drive. We have a pretty good league. It's going to be fun.